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Thoughts on this setup for outdoor charging

Discussion in 'Prime Plug-in Charging' started by Skapruisprime, Feb 23, 2018.

  1. Skapruisprime

    Skapruisprime Member

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    I normally park in my garage and charge from a reg 120v outlet, since the warmer weather is approaching I’ll need to park outside so that my lawn tracker and other equipment can be in the garage.

    I dont need a lvl 2 charger and I dont have an outdoor outlet near the garage area, so Im thinking to use the oem charge cable while still plugged inside the garage....have that run under the garage doors and charge my car outside.

    I attached a pic (found on youtube) on how Im planning to run the cable. Other than making sure the outlet is GFCI cert, you think this will work?
     

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  2. CraigM

    CraigM Active Member

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    Looks OK to me. Wonder if the cable is long enough to reach the right-rear of the car? Might need to back up to the garage door?
     
  3. Skapruisprime

    Skapruisprime Member

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    Yea might have to backup or park sideways haha
     
  4. Wuzki

    Wuzki Member

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    I bought a 25feet 10g extension cord from Home Depot and run from garage to my drive way. Had been using this set up ever since 6month.
     
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  5. Skapruisprime

    Skapruisprime Member

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    Did you drill a hole in the wall or some other method?
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would just run the extension cord under the corner like you did with the oem, and plug them together outside. or you could plug them together inside, depending on how much outdoor length you need.
    oem is pretty long.
     
  7. Wuzki

    Wuzki Member

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    There is a mailbox hole in the garage, so I run it thought there. But I had bought the wires and a wall mounted to be install on the outside soon.
     
  8. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    The arrangement described above would violate the National Electrical Code:

    400.12 Uses Not Permitted. Unless specifically permitted in 400.10, flexible cables, flexible cord sets, and power supply cords shall not be used for the following:
    (1) As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure
    (2) Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings, suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors
    (3) Where run through doorways, windows, or similar openings
    (4) Where attached to building surfaces

    Exception to (4): Flexible cord and flexible cable shall be permitted to be attached to building surfaces in accordance with 368.56(B).
    (5) Where concealed by walls, floors, or ceilings or located above suspended or dropped ceilings
    Exception to (5): Flexible cord and flexible cable shall be permitted if contained within an enclosure for use in Other Spaces Used for Environmental Air as permitted by 300.22(C)(3).
    (6) Where installed in raceways, except as otherwise permitted in this Code
    (7) Where subject to physical damage
    (Emphasis added.) The text above is from the 2017 edition, but the Code has had similar provisions for decades.

    In most jurisdictions, the building and electrical codes have the force of law. Perhaps no one is likely to come to your home looking for violations, but if there were to be an incident, a violation discovered during the investigation could lead to civil or criminal liability.

    I recommend installing a suitable weatherproof outlet instead. Also, keep in mind that Toyota writes in the Owner’s Manual, “Connecting the charging cable to an extension cord is strictly prohibited.”
     
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  9. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    I wonder if this statement was put in by the lawyers ("My house burned down and Toyota is negligent since they didn't tell me not do do it.") or the engineers.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm a rule breaker :sneaky: but common sense rules the day.(y)
     
  11. Skapruisprime

    Skapruisprime Member

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    I have an outdoor outlet but is 15-20ft away, do you recommend any legal charger I can use outdoors thats longer (15-20ft)?
     
  12. Old Bear

    Old Bear Senior Member

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    The photo which you submitted with your initial post scares the hell out of me. It's illegal for all of the code reasons cited but it also places the cord where the bottom edge of your garage door is going to come down on it every time the door closes. That means either the bottom edge weatherstrip or the corner of the door itself -- and that is eventually going to damage the cord and, conceivably, electrify the metal door track. And, over time, due to exposure to sunlight, weather, damp concrete, etc., the insulation on the cord will become increasingly brittle -- which is just asking for trouble.

    While not ideal, the use of a heavy-duty extension cord of modest length with the Toyota-provided Prius Prime L1 charger is a viable solution with your GFCI-protected exterior outlet. I'm not sure why Toyota says not to use any extension cord except that it's impossible to make sure that customers use a cord of sufficient capacity and construction. Also, if the cord is used outdoors, remember that the connectors on both ends need to be protected from the weather. And don't locate the cord where it could be submerged, mechanically damaged, or become a tripping hazard.

    Extension cords are never a substitute for permanent wiring. But they are appropriate for extending the cord length on portable devices with cords that are of insufficient length for the circumstances in which such devices are being used.
     
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  13. Skapruisprime

    Skapruisprime Member

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    The pic was from a youtube video. if I was to go that route, the door/weather strip will not be in contact with the cord as it’ll be pass through from the side trim (not under the doors). Also the charger will be back inside when I use the car.

    I understand the codes/laws but I really dont see how using an outlet outdoors is any safer than using an outlet indoors...only difference its that the cord is passing thru a hole. If we put codes/laws aside, wouldnt a dry indoor setup safer than a setup completely outdoors?
     
  14. Old Bear

    Old Bear Senior Member

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    Not if the cord passing from the indoors to the outdoors is subject to damage from being jammed under a door... or impossible to protect, monitor and inspect because it is passing through a hole in a wall or partition.

    An exterior outlet with appropriate weather protection should be neither more nor less safe than an interior outlet. The concern, and the code violation, is temporary wiring passing through an unprotected wall penetration.

    wiring.jpg
     
  15. Skapruisprime

    Skapruisprime Member

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    Alrighty so I decided to take the outdoor light thats near my garage (side of the house) and convert that to an outlet. Then install a clipperscreek lvl 1 charger....done

    Please dont tell me its against code that I took an exterior light fixture...I’ll replace it with a solar light.